Oceanside to allow gourmet food trucks

OCEANSIDE  Oceanside residents may soon find tasty food coming to them, instead of the other way around, after the City Council voted at a meeting Wednesday to change city code to allow gourmet food trucks in the city.

Councilman Jerome Kern and Councilwoman Esther Sanchez had separate items placed on the agenda to start the process for the city.

City code allows vehicles to transport and sell food, but does not allow the food to be prepared in them onsite.

“Our economic backbone, as in most communities, is our small businesses,” Sanchez said. She said allowing mobile kitchens to serve food throughout the city would “benefit existing businesses and create new business opportunities.”

Several restaurant owners spoke in support of the idea, with none speaking to oppose it.

Sara Stella, owner of Azafran Cuban Cuisine, said she and her husband expect a food truck to generate tens of thousands of dollars in revenue annually and that it could help make their business profitable despite decreased sales in the recession.

“The food truck is just an addition to our existing restaurant,” she said.

Councilman Jack Feller, who eventually voted with the rest of the council to have city staffers prepare an amendment to city law to be voted on later, was concerned about the competition a food truck might have with a brick and mortar restaurant.

“If I’m a small business I’d probably go ballistic over this,” Feller said.

He said a restaurant may not react well if a truck serving a similar style of food were to park across the street. He said he doubted allowing food trucks would generate significant new revenue for the city.

“We’re going to get zero sales tax out of this, would be my guess,” he said.

Sanchez laid out a vision for the food trucks that could involve scores of them gathering for a food truck festival.